Honda transalp in the Preseli mountains

Here we go here we go here we go... Bought my bike on Saturday and 5 hours later I was up in West Wales testing out my GPS, entertainment system and the bike. Turns out they all work very well except for maybe my choice in music!.

The bikes a 2005 Honda XL650V Transalp with 30k miles on the clock. Apart from an alarm the bike is completely standard and in very good condition with only a couple of scrapes on the bar ends.

Jenny, as she will be known from this point on (Named by Aileen I think), is a confidence inspiring bike. I felt so sure of my own ability on this bike that it made 70-80mph through the twisty welsh lanes feel slow and easy. If anything maybe a little too easy so it was time to find out if I would have the same confidence when riding off-road which I most definitely did not but here are some pictures just to prove that even an idiot like me can green lane with a bit of luck.

What I like about those photos is that they could be anywhere in the world! After reading so many blogs and looking at so many pictures of what other people have done it is really nice to see a photo of my bike on the rough stuff and upright!


Now for the technical stuff. The modifications I need to make before I leave:

Panniers:
Crash Bars:
Screen:
Some kind of charging system for my phone/GPS/Camera:
Hack off part of my exhaust system (for more MPG):
A proper METAL sump guard:
centre Stand:
Touring tyres:
Extra fuel tanks (at least 5 more likely 10 litres):
And more probably. I will update this post as I get the stuff done!

No motorcycle, no route and no clue. A good start to the trip of a lifetime

Firstly; Mike, Chad, Richard or anyone else at Hendre, if you are reading this then I truly am fuct as you now know what I am planning. I really was going to take the contract but you took too long about it. Please don't fire me!

The leaving date is set for the 9th of June which gives me 5 weeks to buy a motorbike, summer motorcycle gear, reinforced luggage rack, crash bars, new helmet, first aid kit, tent, sleeping bag, some kind of camera... daaaamn... PLEASE don't fire me!

It also gives me 5 weeks to get a Carnet, several visas, off-road training, oh yeah and to plan a route! Maybe actually do fire me!

I am truly shitting one. How do you sum up the emotions that go through your head when you decide to do something like this? It's taken me an hour to get to sleep every night since deciding to go. Reading some of the most inspiring accounts of life on the road have filled me with excitement and a buzz which I can't explain. Reading some of the scariest accounts of near death on the road fills me with a dread that actually makes me feel sick. And the most scary thing of all? I can't plan for tomorrow, how the hell am I going to plan the next 365 days of my life in advance?

So this is it, this is my way of forcing my own hand. Here and now I, Oliver T Francis, commit myself to this trip. No getting scared and bottling it, no more false promises to myself that I will do it next summer and no getting bogged down in the practicalities of life and work. I'm finally doing it! I am really, honest to god, doing it and I have never felt so good in all my life!

p.s. Next person who mentions Ewan McGregor gets a slap.